I may have a choice between buying about 1/3 ozt of 24K gold around 15% below spot, or about 1/3 ozt of platinum around 25% below spot. In neither case is the metal marked -- it's industrial material, in rod/sheet/wire form -- but I do have accurate scales and acid-testing kits to verify the composition. I'm wondering which one would leave me more likely to come out ahead should I decide to sell. Gold is more familiar and liquid, I think, but the discount on the platinum is wider. I do recognize there's some chance that I could be swindled, but the sellers I'm dealing with are established and seem reputable. This is not outside their normal line of business. Thoughts?
Since more than likely, you won't sell in a very short time, so it might be higher or lesser, and the premium the same. I would skip these because when going to sell, you would have to convince the person it is what you say it is. I would use the money and buy identifiable gold myself. There is a reason why it is being sold at that discount to spot.
Well, the other catch is that I actually have one or two geeky projects in mind that could benefit from a platinum rod. But 24K gold is pretty easy to verify. I'm still of two or three minds about the whole thing, but kind of leaning toward the platinum -- it's a smaller chunk of change, for one thing.
Get what you need for the project and enjoy that. As mentioned these are being sold below spot for a reason and if they could easily flip it for above spot they would have already unless someone is doing you a big favor
They're being sold just above (gold) or just below (platinum) spot, but bought at a lower price, courtesy of a $50 coupon.
Okay, I'm bailing on both; if anybody else is up for it, here's the deal. First, find the eBay coupon mentioned elsewhere that gives 20% off on Fashion and Beauty categories, with a $50 discount cap. The code is C20HELLOSPRING; it expires at 11:59PM PST, a bit more than three hours from now. Note that one of the eligible categories is Jewelry & Watches, and that some of the "jewelry findings" and "jewelry design and repair" items are, well, precious metal. The two particular listings I found are these: 24K GOLD ROUND WIRE, 20 GA (0.75MM), 44.5 INCHES, 10.04 GRAMS Melt for that amount of gold is currently $387 and change. The listing is for $390, BIN; with the coupon, you'll get it for $337. Free shipping, from Slovakia, but the seller has solid feedback. PLATINUM HALF ROUND WIRE, 4 X 1.5 MM, 4 INCHES, 10.88 GRAMS Melt for this, assuming it's pure platinum, is $331; it's more likely .950 platinum, 5% ruthenium, although the listing doesn't say. BIN is $295, $245 after coupon. Same seller. There's only one of each, and you can only use the coupon once, unless you're one of those nefarious multiple-eBay-account-holders, so you'll have to decide which one you want. Enjoy...
